Melaura Rice is a Grants and Finance Specialist with the Food, Land, and Water Program. Her role involves overseeing budgets, contracts and sub-contracts for the various projects within WRI’s Forest Program.

Prior to joining WRI, Melaura worked in the electric vehicle world writing grants to electrify US school bus fleets, and as a grants manager at a financial literacy nonprofit.

Melaura holds a B.A. in International Relations from Grand Valley State University. She is an avid traveler and is often on the road, but home is in Chicago, IL. In her free time, Melaura enjoys experimenting in the kitchen, studying Mandarin, going to concerts, and spending time outside.